Vehicle location marker



United States Patent Carl J. Dexter [72] Inventor 140 Hideaway Lane, West Lafayette, Indiana 47906 21 AppLNo. 826,768

[22] Filed Apt-1130,1969

Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 703,698, Feb. 7, 1968, abandoned [45] Patented Nov. 17, 1970 [54] VEHICLE LOCATION MARKER 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl......l 116/28,

116/132; 248/38; 287/12 [51] Int. Cl. B60q [50] Field ofSearch 116/28,

Primary Examiner- Louis J. Capozi Attorney Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt and Naughton ABSTRACT: A marker device including a base yoke adhesively attached to a vehicle roof, with an intermediate member pivotally mounted thereto on a first axis, and a second intermediate member pivotally mounted thereto on a second axis lying in a plane perpendicular to the first axis, the marker rod being affixed to the second intermediate member and having a flag or other identifying device thereon. The marker rod is universally pivotable from a retracted position flush with the roof top, to an elevated position projecting well above the rooftop. A second embodiment employs a ball and socket joint assembly.

Patented Nov. 17, 1970 Sheet INVENTOR CAZL J DEXT E2 ukniml,ulaumi,fm%m

10 Home J VEHICLE LOCATION MARKER CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part application of US. Pat. application Ser. No. 703,698 filed Feb. 7, 1968, now abandoned entitled Vehicle Location Marker having an inven tion which is common with this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to marker devices, and more particularly to one mounted to a vehicle rooftop and movable from an inconspicuous position to an elevated conspicuous position to facilitate location of the vehicle in a crowded parking lot.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various devices are known in the prior art, including markers of a type used on vehicles in funeral processions. Examples of prior art markers are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,906,234, 3,127,869, 3,158,132 and 3,280,790.

It is also known to put marker balls, flags, or ribbons on vehicle antennas.

The typical funeral procession markers are not satisfactory because they are typically not retractable, and they are not conspicuous enough for use in locating a vehicle in large crowded parking lots of the shopping center or sporting event stadium variety. Various devices mounted to vehicle antennas can be detrimental from both the standpoints of electrical disturbance and mechanical damage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation showing one embodiment of the device mounted on vehicle roof, the dotted line indicating the retracted position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view taken at line 2-2 of FIG. I and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged side elevational view as seen from the left in FIG. 2 and as seen directly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section taken at line 4-4 in FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged section taken at line 55 in FIG. 4 and viewed in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the mounting to the rooftop;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment employing a ball and socket assembly;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view of the embodiment of FIG. 6, the view being taken in the same direction as that of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side elevational view of still another embodiment taken in the same direction as that of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a'section taken of the embodiment of FIG. 8 taken in the same direction as that ofFIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail, the rod 11 may be provided with a flag or other identifying means 12 at the upper end thereof, the lower end being affixed to a cylindrical member 13. The member 13 is pivotally mounted to the member 14 for rotation on the elongated axis of the bolt 16, the tension spring 17 under the washer l8 preventing a loose connection at this location.

The member 14 is pivotally mounted to a yoke 19 by means of the two screws 21 threadedly received in the member 14 and which can be tightened to prevent rotation of the member 14 on the axis 22 of the screws, which axis is perpendicular to a vertical plane containing the horizontal axis ofthe bolt 16.

The yoke is secured to the roof 23 of the car by a stiff but pliable rubber sheet 24 having a pressure sensitive adhesive 26 on the lower face thereof. This sheet is secured to the yoke in FIG. 5 by screws 27. Other adhesive means can be provided for securing the yoke to the rooftop of the vehicle, and nonadhesive mechanical attachments might also be used but adhesives are considered much preferable. A streamlining cap 28 is received over the bolt head and screw as shown in FIGS. 2 and The structure of this embodiment of the invention facilitates the retention of the rod 11 in the retracted position shown by the dotted outline 11R in FIG. I, or in the elevated position shown by the solid outline. It is only necessary to provide the proper tension on the spring 17 and the screws 21 for this purpose.

The alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 includes a base structure with a yoke portion 31 having two upstanding arms 32 at opposite ends thereof (one not appearing in the drawing) to which is fastened a block portion 33 by means of screws 34. The member 31 has the rubber mounting sheet 24 secured to the lower face thereof and adhesively attached to the roof as with the previous embodiment. However in this embodiment another block portion 36 is provided, portions 33 and 36 having facing ball socket cavities 37 and 38, respectively therein. These receive a pivot ball 39 to which the marker rod 11 is affixed. The tension on the ball in the cavities can be adjusted by the screws 41 and 42 which are received in apertures in the block 36 and threadedly received in the block 33. It will be apparent from this description that the rod 11 secured to the ball can be moved to a variety of positions including the elevated position of FIG. 1 and retracted position shown therein. FIG. 7 shows the rod in the elevated position in the dotted outlines and shows that in the retracted position the rod is disposed partially within the space between the two blocks 33 and 36.

FIGS. 8 and9 illustrate the preferred embodiment ofthis invention. Referring to these figures, it can be seen that a first yoke 19 is similar to and mounted in a fashion as described above. Mounted within this first yoke is a second yoke 44 which is attached thereto by means of a pair of opposing screws 21. The second yoke is adapted to pivot in a first axis around screws 21. Mounted pivotally within said second yoke is a drum 48 to which is affixed rod 11.

The drum is secured in the second yoke by means of bolt 46 which passes through one arm of the second yoke and into drum 48. Bolt 46 is secured in the drum by means of rod 11 which is threaded into aperture 45 which passes through the drum and bolt.

The frictional relationship between the drum and second yoke 44 is controlled by the tension on bolt 46. This tension is regulated by means of a spacer 50 which is mounted on bolt 46. Spacer 50 contains a first hardened flat washer 56 adjacent to the head of bolt 46. A lock washer 54 is adjacent thereto and a second hardened flat washer 52 is adjacent to lock washer 54. The thickness of flat washers 52 and 56 and lock washer 54in an expanded position is slightly greater than the thickness of spacer 50.

When bolt 46 is tightened lock washer 54 is compressed such that flat washer 52 and spacer 50 are in frictional contact with second yoke 44. Because of this frictional contact the movement of rod 11 from a horizontal to vertical stance is controlled.

It is understood by one skilled in the art that lock washer 54 could easily be replaced by a compression coil spring.

While the invention has been disclosed and described in some detail in the drawings and foregoing description, they are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, as other modifications may readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art and within the broad scope of the invention, reference being made to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vehicle location marker comprising:

a base securable to a vehicle body;

a rod pivotally mounted to said base for movement from a retracted position generally parallel to a vehicle body surface to an elevatedposition wherein it projects well above the rooftop level of said vehicle body;

friction means operational between said rod and said base for normally retaining said rod in whichever of said retracted or elevated dispositions it happens to be disposed;

said base includes a first portion secured to said vehicle body and a second portion secured to said first portion, said first and second portions having ball socket cavities therein;

a ball secured to said rod and received in facing cavities of said first and second portion;

said friction 'means including said ball and cavities and fastener means in said first and second portions, said fastener means being adjustable to reduce the space between said cavities and tighten said ball therein; and

said base includes a yoke attached to said vehicle body, said first portion being received in and secured to said yoke and thereby secured to said vehicle body.

2. A vehicle location marker comprising:

a base securable to a vehicle body;

a rod pivotally mounted to said base for movement from a retracted position generally parallel to a vehicle body surface to an elevated position wherein it projects well above the rooftop level of said vehicle body;

friction means operational between said rod and said base for normally retaining said rod in whichever of said retracted or elevated dispositions it happens to be disposed;

said base being a first yoke;

a second yoke being received between the arms of said first yoke and pivotably mounted thereon on a first axis; and an intermediate member being pivotably mounted within said second yoke for pivoting on a second axis lying in a plane perpendicular to said first axis, said rod being affixed to said intermediate member.

3. The marker of claim 2 wherein said intermediate member is a drum, wherein said drum is secured in said second yoke by means ofa bolt which passes through one arm of said second yoke and into said drum, wherein said bolt is secured to said drum by the passage of said rod through said drum and said bolt.

4. The marker of claim 3 wherein the frictional relationship between said drum and said second yoke is controlled by said bolt wherein positioned between the head of said bolt and said second yoke is a spacer, which contains a first hardened flat washer adjacent to the head of said bolt, a lock washer adjacent thereto and a second hardened flat washer adjacent thereto, the thickness of said first and second hardened flat washers and said lock washer in an expanded position being slightly greater than the thickness of said spacer. 

